Gillian Anderson prepares for her “Masterpiece”

Scully is hosting the venerablePBS series Masterpiece Theatre? Someone call Mulder; there hasto be paranormal activity at work here. Gillian Anderson

has signed on as one ofthe new hosts forthe upcoming season of the newly revamped PBS mainstay. Yes, I saidone of the new hosts, because the popular series will now be served threeways: Masterpiece Classic, Masterpiece Mystery! and Masterpiece Contemporary. Gillian will host MasterpieceClassic, which will feature period pieces and run January to May.The other flavors will run summer and fall, respectively. Those hostswill be announced next year.

At first glance, Gillian’snew gig might elicit a “bahwah?” But when given a couple secondsto sink in, it actually makes perfect sense. Gillian is no strangerto the Masterpiece audience. In January 2006, she was nominatedfor a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Lady Dedlock in the critically acclaimedBBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Bleak House.

And she is no stranger to costumedramas, having starred as Lily Bart in the 2000 adaptation of EdithWharton’s House of Mirth. And, heck, she isn’t even a strangerto England, since she lives in London. All in all, it’s kind of —well — genius.

Bringing in the X-Files star is a move toward attracting a younger, possibly hipper, audience.She is a marked departure from the show’s two previous hosts, thelegendary Alistair Cooke (1971–1992) and former New York Times columnist RussellBaker (1992–2004). As much as I loved the distinguished and urbane Mr.Cooke, I will say that Gillian is by far the hottest host in the show’s37-year history.

Program executive producer

Rebecca Eaton told The New YorkTimesthat longtime fans shouldn’t worry that the changes to the show’spackaging and scheduling will have an effect on its content. “We’renot tarting it up or dumbing it down. We’re making it as easy as possibleto find and get into the programs,” she said. True enough. Peoplehave called Gillian many things over the years, but I doubt“tart” and “dumb” have ever been lobbed her way.

Up first for Anderson’s newClassic season will be Persuasion, beginning Jan. 13. The presentationis part of a series called The CompleteJane Austen — this is the marathon globalgrrl gleefully blogged about in November. The series represents the first time all of the author’s books will be shown togetheron television. OK, sorry: Dana Scully and Jane Austen? It’s like the weirdest, bestfemslash ever.

The new Masterpiece

will do away with old intro’s book-filled study and will go instead witha simple studio. Also gone will be most of the familiar refrains ofJean-Joseph Mouret’s brass fanfare “Rondeau.” According to theTimes, only snippets will be used in the opening. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Addan attractive actress, great. Do away with the stuffy library, fine.But get rid of those signature horns? Sacrilege! I grew up in a PBS/NPRfamily. That’s what we did on Sunday nights. But I will try to adjust.Just as long as they don’t use techno. Technopiece Theatre —could you imagine? Shudder.